Method of manufacturing packing rings



May 25, 1937. A. w. WENZEL METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PACKING RINGS FiledSept. 15, 1954 INVENTOI? @1627? I44 Weizze'l A TOE/YE) Patented May 1937METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PACKING RINGS Albert W. Wenzel,

West Orange, N. J.

Application September 15, F234;, Serial No. 744,151

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the method of manufacturing packing rings.

The objects of the invention are to provide a method which will producea properly and permanently tensioned ring; to improve the method ofmanufacturing a packing ring in which the tension normally closes thering; to provide a method which afiects the molecular structurethroughout the peripheral length of the ring; to

I shape the ring while in a naturally assumed position; to securesimplicity of construction, operation and fulfillment of the severalsteps requisite to the method; and to obtain other advantages results asmaybe brought out in the following descr p n- In the accompanyingdrawing in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throuh ut the s v al Figure 1 is elevation of a ring which has heen'cut to riqe the us a expansion c n but Othe w s i i cr d con Figure 2 shows thering of Fig. l drawn together to close the said gap, with the endsoverlapped ad for hea treatment Figure {i is a perspective View of thering after the heat treatment;

Figure l is a similar perspective view with the ringsprung into positionwith the ends abutting;

Figure 5illustrates the next step of the method wherein one or morerings are held f rictionally by their l t surfaces ready to mach ne h idy ndr u iacs elites s ne Figure 6 illustrates the next" step wherein therings are similarly clamped to be internally mai ed;

Figure 7 shows a ring which has been machined both on its outside andinside circumferences and which is being compressed in accordance withthe present invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 8--8 of Fig.

to be understood the invention is not restricted thereby.

In proceeding with the manufacture of rings according tc my invention,the blank may be an iron casting in the shape of an annulus. In Figure1, I have illustrated such an annulus, designated by the numeral Illupon which the first operation has been performed, namely cutting thesame through at I! so that the annulus may be resiliently compressed.While I have shown the cut as made as astep or overlapping joint, anysuitable cut may be made for obtaining the desired joint or overlap forthe ends thus made. After completion of this first step, the ring isnext drawn together to overlap the ends thereof, as shown Figure 2 byany suitable tool l2, here shown as including a band l3 which willextend around the annulus and the ends of which can have tension appliedthereto in opposite directions. While the ring is drawn together andheld in suitable manner, such as with the tool illustrated in Fig. 2;,said ring is treated in suitable manner to cause it to naturally retainthe po sition,,or substantially the position, to which it hasbeenbrought. One such treatment is to subjegtthe ring to relatively hightemperature. After the treatment the ring will retain the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 3 with the ends overlapped further thannecessary for juxtaposing th stepped portions. After this step, the ringis then spread and twisted so that the stepped portions are juxtaposedas shown in Fig. 4. The tension' of the metal would normally cause thering to overlap further at its ends except that the ends abut and thushold the ring against further collapsing. When the ring is in use forpacking purposes, it is applied to a cylindrical surface of a diametersuch that the ring spreads slightly and will thus hug the saidcylindrical surface.

With .theends of the ring abutting as shown in Fig. i it assumes itsnatural shape, when closed and is then clamped by its side or fiat faceswith adequate force to retain the ring in exactly the shape it assumedwhile free. The clamping of the ring is illustrated in Fig. 5 whereinnumeral l4 indicates a base or clamping plate in the nature of a faceplate with a flat face against which one side of the ring ll] may beengaged. A spiderlike mandrel l5positioned upon a central bolt Itprotruding from the face plate may be utilized for approximatelycentering the ring with respect to clamping or face plate [4. Inpractice, I prefer to make the mandrel l5 and bolt it of sufficientlength so that a plurality of rings may heappliedat one time, said ringsresting against each other side by side and being clamped by an outerclamping plate I? applied upon the bolt next the outermost ring andcaused to squeeze the gs tog-ether by applying a nut I8 to the bolt. Theouter clamping plate I? is of a diameter greater than the inner diameterof the ring. but of less diameter than the outer diameter of the ring. Amargin of the ring next the outer circumference therefore may be seenprojecting beyond the circumference of the outer clamping plate.

It will be understood that the outer curved surface of the several ringsthus held by the clamp provides a substantially cylindrical surface. Theclamp with the rings may then be put in a lathe or other suitablemachine and the outer surface of the rings turned down to a depth belowthe chilled or spongy layer of the casting to a surface where the metalis healthy, for instance to surface I9 where the crusty surface of thecasting and the imperfections which exist in that part thereof have beeneliminated. All of the rings are thus brought to a perfect cylindricalformation of desired size and healthy surface.

While outer clamping plate I? still retains the machined rings securedin perfect cylindrical condition, a clamping collar 2|] which has amiddle opening 2! large enough to receive clamping plate [1 therein, isapplied to the margin of the piston ring projecting beyond the edge ofclamping plate ii, and is then secured by bolts 22 and nuts 21 withrespect to the base clamping plate I4. After this clamping collar issecured firmly, the outer clamping plate I! and mandrel I5 as well asbolt [6 may be removed. This enables the inner surface of the severalpiston rings to be machined to a healthy surface 23, thereby taking offthe crust of the castings at the inside of said rings and removing theimperfections of the chilled and spongy layer to a desired depth. Whenthis op eration is completed, the clamping collar 20 may be removed, ifdesired, and all further operations performed individually upon therings.

As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the next operation upon the ring istoobtain a molecular disturbance throughout the length of one surface ofthe ring. This operation may be performed upon such surface or surfacesof the ring as found desirable or necessary for the tension desired. Thestep contemplates obtaining in the finished ring at least one surfacewhich is compressed for the entire circular length of that surface. Asone means of accomplishing this result upon a selected surface, forinstance the outer circumference of the ring, a roller 24 may beutilized. While this roller is also illustrated of a progressiveapplication of the tension, it is not restricted thereto, as the tensionmay be otherwise applied, for instance by a contracting tool andprogressive from several points or with a simultaneous pressurethroughout the length of the surface, or by hammering at close intervalsalong the sur face.

Describing the illustrated embodiment, the roller 24 is shown as havinga central bead 25 of less width than the ring. This roller is applied tothe outer circumference of the ring and caused to travel entirely aroundthat circumference with suitable pressure so as to create a continuousdepression or groove 26 in the ring. Bead 25; being of less width thanthe ring, avoids turning up a burr at the side face of the ring. Howeverthe molecular disturbance and compression is continuous throughout thelength of the inner circumference and thus obtains a perfect tensioni ngwithout any likely distortion or warping in use.

It is within the scope of the invention to apply this pressure uniformlythroughout the circular length of the ring cr to vary the pressure insuch manner as to obtain greater compression diametrically opposite thesplit or joint, and progressively lessening in both directions fromthismaximum pressure to a minimum pressure adjacent the split. Fig. 9illustrates the ring as having had the pressure applied continuouslyalong its outer circumference, thereby forming a groove or depression 2%within the outer machined surface !9- as above described. The methodperformed as described above accomplishes the ultimate result with lessoperations than utilized in known previously used methods.

Obviously detail changes and modifications may be made in carrying outmy improved meth- 0d of manufacturing packing rings and in the apparatusemployed in the accomplishment of that method without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself thereto except as set forth in the following claims whenconstrued in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first deformingthe same to abnormal position smaller than normal closed position andtreating the same so it will tend to assume substantially the saidabnormal position.

2. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first deformingthe same to abnormal position smaller than normal closed position andheat treating the same so it will tend to assume substantially the saidabnormal position.

3. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressingthe same from a normal position of use to abnormal undersized position,and treating the same so it will tend to assume thereafter substantiallythe said abnormal position.

4. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressingthe same from a normal position of use to abnormal undersized position,treating the same so it Will tend to assume thereafter substantially thesaid abnormal position, and spreading said ring to substantially theposition of use.

5. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressingthe same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it willtend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position,spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, and machiningsaid ring while held in said position of use.

6. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressingthe same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it willtend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position,spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, clamping thering fiatwise with the outer circumference of the ring exposed, andmachining said outer circumference.

7. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressingthe same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it willtend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position,spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, clamping thering flatwise with the inner circumference of the ring exposed, andmachining said inner circumference.

8. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressingthe same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it willtend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position,spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, clamping thering fiatwise with the outer circumference of the ring exposed,machining said outer circumference, applying a clamp to the fiat face ofthe ring outside of the first clamp, removing the first clamp, andmachining the inner circumference of the ring.

9. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising applying acontinuous pressure to and impression in the outer circumference thereofacross less than the whole width of the ring for obtaining a continuousmolecular disturbance of the material throughout the length of saidouter circumference.

10. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising rolling a grooveon the outer circumference of the ring in a circumferential directionfor obtaining a molecular disturbance and impression in the material ofthe said ring.

11. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressingthe same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it willtend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position,spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, clamping thering fiatwise while thus held in position of use, machining the ringwhile clamped, and thereafter applying a continuous pressure throughoutthe length of one surface of the ring for obtaining a continuousmolecular disturbance throughout said length.

12. A method of manufacturing packing rings comprising first compressingthe same to abnormal undersized position, treating the same so it willtend to assume thereafter substantially the said abnormal position,spreading said ring to substantially the position of use, clamping thering flatwise with the outer circumference of the ring exposed,machining said outer circumference, applying a clamp to the fiat face ofthe ring outside of the first clamp, removing the first clamp, machiningthe inner circumference of the ring, and applying a continuous pressurethroughout the length of one surface of the ring for obtaining amolecular disturbance of the material throughout said length.

ALBERT W. WENZEL.

